Packaged article and method of packaging



July 23, 1968 D. R. CLARKE 3,393,796

PACKAGED ARTICLE AND METHOD OF PACKAGING Filed Dec. 8, 1965 INVENTOR.

TOR/V575 United States Patent 3,393,796 PACKAGED ARTICLE AND METHOD OF PACKAGING Denis R. Clarke, White Bear Township, Ramsey County,

Minn., assignor to Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, St. Paul, Minn., a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 8, 1965, Ser. No. 512,326 9 Claims. (Cl. 206-47) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A hermetically sealed strip material dispensing package having flexible, impervious sidewalls heat sealed together and having a seam traversing the leading end of the strip material permanently sealing the sidewalls together and lightly bonding the strip material to at least one of the sidewalls thereby securing the end in a position which is accessible when the package is opened and providing an opening between the sidewalls through which the strip material may be dispensed.

This invention relates to the storing and dispensing of tapes, cords, filaments, and other strip material. Generally this invention relates to a package for storing and dispensing strip material and in one specific aspect this invention relates to a package for storing and dispensing oil immersed tape for use in replacing the insulation and conductive shielding around the conductors in high voltage cables at splice areas or termination points.

The invention has particular utility, for example, in the wrapping of tape around the area where bared ends of conductors are joined together in the splicing of insulated electric power cables. A common type of high voltage cable, used in the transmission and distribution of electrical power, is the lead sheathed cable containing therein three individually paper insulated and metallic shielded conductors. The paper is generally impregnated with an insulating oil, providing for both low dielectric loss and low cost in the resulting insulation. When splicing or terminating high voltage cables, the dielectric strength of the replacement insulation must approximately equal that of the oil impregnated paper with which the conductors are originally wrapped.

The procedure generally followed, in making a splice for example, is to strip away from the end of each core successively shorter lengths of the lead sheathing, metallic shielding and paper insulation, respectively, leaving the bare conductors which are then smoothly joined together, for example, by soldering within a split ferrule. The next step is wrapping the splice area around the joined conductor ends with replacement insulation and conductive shielding. An insulating material commonly used is oil impregnated paper tape which, under present practice, is supplied to the jointer in rolls immersed in sealed oil filled rigid metal cans. The jointer reaches into the oil filled can, retrieves a roll of jointing paper, and then, holding the oily roll of paper in his hands, he wraps the bare conductors in a helical or overlapping fashion, periodically basting each layer of the wrapping with hot oil to remove any dirt or moisture which may have come into contact with the tape, until the diameter of the original paper insulation, which has been stripped away, is reached; this operation is called the first build up.

The second build up, covering the first, is similar but extends out to the ends of the cut off metallic shield with the middle portion built up to a greater diameter than the shield. A wide strip, having a trapezoidal shape, which when wrapped around the splice area forms the desired profile, is sometimes used for the second build up.

3,393,796 Patented July 23, 1968 After the second build up has been completed, conductive wrapping is applied covering the second build up and extending between and electrically connecting the ends of the metallic shields. Flexible metallic tape or braid is commonly used as the conductive wrapping connecting the shield ends. In the case of multi-conductor cables the same procedure is followed for the remaining cores.

The splicing or terminating of high voltage cables commonly is done under adverse working conditions; yet the resulting joint must be 'free from contamination caused by such things as dirt, air pockets, and moisture entering the replacement insulation. Jointers, making a cable splice or termination, normally work in a manhole or at a construction site so the possibility of contamination, which can cause a breakdown of the insulation, is always present.

As an example of the 'difliculties which may arise, it has been found that mere perspiration from the hands of the jointer may contaminate and cause failure of the replacement insulation. As previously mentioned, basting the layers of wrapped tape with hot oil is one method heretofore employed in attempting to guard against accidental contamination of the replacement insulation. The procedure is cumbersome and messy. When a cable with multiple cores or conductors is being wrapped, the jointer has the additional problem of negotiating the oily roll of tape around or between the conductors not then being wrapped.

The present invention makes possible the elimination of many of the above mentioned difliculties, inherent in prior art practice, by supplying the oil impregnated tape and conductive wrapping in heremetically sealed flexible containers from which the tape and wrapping can be easily and cleanly dispensed without contact with the hands. The invention will be further described in connection with the drawing, not necessarily to scale, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view illustrating a prefered filled and hermetically sealed dispenser package;

FIGURE 2 is a partial section taken along line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of another form of package; and

FIGURE 4 is a partial view of a package illustrating an alternative embodiment.

The embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 1 comprises a hermetically sealed envelope 10 containing a strip of paper tape 18, wound into a roll 18b, impregnated with and immersed in insulating oil 19. The envelope 10 is made from a strong, flexible, water and oil impervious sheet material capable of withstanding rough handling and capable of being hermetically sealed so that oil or liquids contained therein will not leak out. The packaging film described in US. Patent No. 3,188,265 is particularly suitable for making the envelope because of its ability to contain and protect oily substances and its resistance to rupture, and additionally, since it is heat sealable, the fabrication of the packages is facilitated.

Referring again to FIGURE 1, the envelope 10 has narrow seams 11, 12, 13 and 14 along the four edges forming a hermetically sealed enclosure. Seam 15, extending along segments of a line connecting opposite sealed edges 11 and 13 and crossing the leading end portion of the tape 18a, the segments extending from the sealed edges 11 and 13 to adjacent edges of the tape, permanently seals together the sidewalls to the envelope. The inner ends of the sealed segments, i.e., the ends next to the tape, define the edges of an opening 17 between the sidewalls. The roll of tape 18b is contained in the compartment below seam 15 with the leading end portion 18a extending through the opening 17. The interior seam 15, which seals together the sidewalls, must be strong enough to withstand the pressure exerted against it, without rupturing, when the package is grasped in the hand and, after the top portion of the package has been cut open along dotted line 16, the tape is dispensed through the opening 17.

When using a relatively narrow roll of tape or strip material, as illustrated in FIGURE 1, the sides of the roll, when positioned within the envelope, are parallel with the sidewalls of the normally flat envelope thereby requiring a quarter turn of the leading end of the roll of tape 18a or strip material for it to be engaged flatly within opening 17. Alternatively, illustrated in FIGURE 3, when using wider tape or strip material, the roll is positioned within the envelope such that the sides are perpendicular to the sidewalls of the normally fiat envelope in which case the leading end of the roll does not require a quarter turn for flat engagement within the opening. The quarter turn of the leading end of the tape 18a, of FIGURE 1, when the sides of the roll are parallel to the envelope, does not hinder dispensing.

As illustrated in FIGURE 1, the leading end portion of the tape 18:: is lightly bonded to either or both of the sidewalls, preferably along the line of the interrupted sealed seam 15. Generally, a narrow, readily breakable, light bond between the tape and the sidewalls is achieved by suitably selecting the time, temperature, and pressure employed in making the seam 15, when heat scaling is utilized, so that the seam is made sufficiently strong but the interposition of the tape between the sidewalls along the line of seal renders the seal between the tape and the sidewalls sufficiently light so it can be broken upon imparting a slight pull to the exposed end of the tape. The above method requires that, under the same conditions, the sidewalls be more easily heat-sealed to themselves than to the tape. This requirement is satisfied by selecting a suitable strip material or by treating the strip material, e.g., as illustrated herein, by use of oil impregnated paper tape. Additionally, the width of scam 15 and consequently the width of the bond between the sidewalls and the tape, can be varied to ensure the proper bond between the sidewalls and the tape. The light, readily breakable bond holds the tape in position within the opening 17 during moderate manipulation of the finished package while permitting loosening and removal without breakage of the tape upon application of opposing tension to the envelope and the tape.

When the package of tape is to be used, the envelope is cut open, for example along dotted line 16 of FIG- URE 1, making it possible to grasp the leading end portion of the tape 18a for initiating its application. After the envelope is cut open and during the dispensing of the tape some of the oil will seep through the slit 17 and onto the hands of the jointer who is applying the tape, but the emitted oil does not hinder the jointer.

A package, illustrated by FIGURE 1, can be readily fabricated by heat sealing the peripheral edges 11, 13 and 14 of two rectangularly shaped pieces of sheet material to form an open ended envelope. The roll of tape 18 is inserted into the envelope which is then substantially filled with insulating oil 19. After positioning the leading end of the tape 18a so it is fiat against the sidewalls near the open end of the envelope and removing air pockets by squeegeeing the sidewalls of the envelope, the interior seal comprising seam 15 and the bond between the sidewalls and the tape, extending along a line running from seam 11 to seal 13 and crossing the leading end of the tape 18a, is then formed by heat sealing. Finally, the peripheral edge 12 is heat sealed to completely enclose the oil and tape within the envelope. The seam 15 is formed through any oil which may be between the sidewalls and which is displaced during the sealing operation. The leading end portion of the tape 18a, interposed between the sidewalls of the envelope and crossing the interior seal, interrupts the permanent seal between the sidewalls, leaving a breakable bond between the sidewalls and the tape.

The time, temperature, and pressure employed in forming the interior heat seal can be varied to insure correct sealing between the opposing sidewalls and bonding between the tape and the sidewalls. Following is an example of conditions useful in fabricating a package: when the sheet material is l-mil polyethylene the seals are formed by pressing the sheets together between a fiat metal supporting surface and a steel bar, of the same width as the desired seal and maintained at a temperature of 450 F., under a pressure sufficient to exert a sealing pressure of pounds per square inch. Pressure is maintained for about 3 seconds and is preferably followed by rapid cooling for about 2 seconds, e.g., by pressure contact with a cold metal bar.

In an alternative embodiment, illustrated by FIGURE 4, the two seams 12 and 15 of FIGURE 1 are replaced by a single wide seal 29. For example, the seal is as wide as the distance between the double seals 12 and 15 illustrated in FIGURE 1, in which case the end portion of the tape 31 is embedded about half way into the seal. In opening a package having a single wide seal, a cut is made along the length of the wide seal and across the end portion of the tape embedded therein, e.g., along dotted line 28. The end of the tape may then be grasped with the fingernails and application of the tape initiated.

The advantages of the package are numerous. It provides a contamination proof means of storage in a convenient package permitting designation of length and width of tape or strip material contained therein. When the package is opened an ready to use, it provides a means for dispensing tape or strip material such that the possibility of contamination by dirt, air and moisture is greatly reduced, or eliminated. With the reduction in the possibility of contamination the step of basting the layers of wrapping with hot oil can be eliminated. The package can be easily grasped and manipulated by the jointer and, although the hands do not touch the roll, hand pressure can be effectively applied through the envelope against the roll so as to regulate the tension of the tape or strip material being dispensed from the package during the wrapping operation. Also, the jointer can regulate the amount of oil on the dispensed tape by squeezing the envelope between the fingers at the exit point. The conductive wrapping can also be packaged in the same manner thereby providing the jointer with both the conductive and insulating wrapping in convenient useful packages. Additionally, the envelope prevents the roll from laterally collapsing in the jointers hands as sometimes happens with an uncovered roll.

Another embodiment of the invention, illustrated in FIGURE 3, provides a unitary package containing all the ingredients and means for storing, mixing, and dispensing a self-curing resin-impregnated strip or sheet material, e.g., a resin-treated woven porous fiberglass tape. The package comprises a hermetically sealed envelope 20 having sidewalls made from sheet material which is strong, flexible, impervious, and preferably heat sealable, such as the previously mentioned packaging film disclosed in US. Patent No. 3,118,265. The envelope is divided into two compartments which are separated by a selectively rupturable seam 21. A supply of resin hardener 24 is contained in the bottom compartment and a supply of liquid resin 25, together with a roll of fiberglass tape 26, is contained in the top compartment.

The package containing the ingredients illustrated in FIGURE 3 is formed by heat sealing three edges of two rectangular pieces of sheet material thereby forming an envelope with an open top. The supply of resin hardener is then placed into the envelope and sealed with a rupturable seal, for example as described in U.S. Patent No. 3,074,544. The resin is then placed in the envelope along with a roll of fiberglass tape. An interior heat seal, as aforementioned, cutting across the leading end portion of the tape, which has been positioned fiat against the sidewalls of the envelope near the open top, and extending between the edge seals of the envelope, is then made. Finally a heat seal is made along the top edge closing the compartment containing the terminal end of the tape and completely enclosing the tape and ingredients.

When the package is to be used, the seam 21, separating the resin and tape from the resin hardener, is ruptured by gripping the opposing sidewalls of the bottom compartment and rapidly pulling them apart. After mixing the resin and hardener together by kneading and after the fiberglass tape has become saturated with the mixture, the top compartment is out along dotted line 27, and, by grasping the now exposed leading edge of the tape to initiate the dispensing, the fiberglass tape is applied.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated by FIG- URE 3 offers the advantage of a single package providing means for storing, mixing and dispensing the ingredients required for applying fiberglass tape. Fiberglass tape has only been used to help illustrate the invention, and various other materials, such as cords, filaments, strips can likewise be utilized whether or not immersion in a liquid is required.

It will be understood that various changes in the details, materials, steps and arrangements which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention, may be made by those skilled in the art within the principle and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A package of strip material comprising a normally flat open-ended envelope constructed of a pair of sheets of strong flexible impervious material as sidewalls, said envelope containing a supply of strip material having a free leading end portion, said free leading end portion being positioned near the open end of said envelope, the sidewalls of said envelope being adapted to be permanently sealed together adjacent said open end to provide a completely closed envelope and being permanently sealed together along segments of a line connecting opposite sealed edges of said envelope and running transversely across said free leading end portion, said segments extending from the edge of the envelope to the adjacent edge of the strip, the inner ends of said segments defining the edges of an opening between the sidewalls w1th1n which said strip is positioned, said strip being attached to at least one of said sidewalls along said line and across said opening with a bond suflicient to retain the leading end portion within said opening during moderate manipulation of said package while permitting loosening and removal without breakage of said strip on application of opposing tension to said envelope and said strip.

2. The article of claim 1 in which the strip material is immersed in a supply of insulating oil.

3. A package of strip material comprising a normally flat hermetically sealed completely closed envelope havmg strong flexible impervious sidewalls, said envelope containing a supply of strip material having a free leading end portion, the sidewalls of said envelope belng permanently sealed together along segments of a l ne connecting opposite edges of said envelope and crosslng said free leading end portion, said segments extending from the edge of the envelope to the adjacent edge of the strip, the inner ends of said segments defining the edges of an opening between said sidewalls within which said strip is positioned, said strip being attached to at least one of said sidewalls along said line and across said opening with a bond suflicient to retain the leading end portion within said opening during moderate manipulation of said package while permitting loosening and removal wlthout breakage of said strip on application of opposing tension to said envelope and said strip, said envelope being further sealed across the edge just beyond the free leading end of said strip material to complete the hermetic seal.

4. The package of claim 3 wherein the sidewalls are sealed together along said line segments in the form of a narrow seam.

5. The article of claim 3 in which the supply of strip material is immersed in a supply of insulating oil.

6. A package of strip material comprising a normally flat hermetically sealed completely closed envelope having strong flexible impervious sidewalls, said envelope containing a supply of strip material having a free leading end portion, the sidewalls of said envelope being permanently sealed together to form a wide seam across one end, the leading end portion of said strip material being embedded between the sidewalls within the boundaries of the wide seam, said wide seam extending beyond the leading end of said strip to complete the hermetic seal, said leading end portion being attached to at least one of said sidewalls within said wide seam with a bond suflicient to retain the leading end portion embedded within said seam during moderate manipulation of said package while permitting loosening and removal without breakage of said strip on application of opposing tension to said envelope and said strip.

7. A package of strip material comprising a normally flat open-ended envelope having strong flexible impervious sidewalls, said envelope containing a supply of strip material having a free leading end portion, said free leading end portion being positioned near the end opposite the open end of said envelope, the sidewalls of said envelope being adapted to be permanently sealed together adjacent said open end to provide a completely closed envelope and being permanently sealed together along segments of a line connecting opposite sealed edges of said envelope and crossing said free leading end portion, said segments extending from the edge of the envelope to the adjacent edge of the strip, the inner ends of said segments defining the edges of an opening between said sidewalls within which said strip is positioned, said strip being attached to at least one of said sidewalls along said line and across said opening with a bond sufficient to retain the leading end portion within said opening during moderate manipulation of said package while permitting loosening and removal without breakage of said strip on application of opposing tension to said envelope and said strip.

8. A unitary multiple compartment package, useful for mixing separately stored inter-reactive fluent materials with each other and with a supply of strip material, which strip material may then be dispensed therefrom, said package comprising a nonmally flat hermetically sealed completely closed envelope having strong flexible impervious sidewalls, said envelope containing a supply of strip material immersed in a first fluent material, said strip material having a free leading end portion, the sidewalls of said envelope being permanently sealed together along segments of a line connecting opposite edges of said envelope and crossing said free leading end portion, said segments extending from the edge of the envelope to the adjacent edge of the strip, the inner ends of said segments defining the edges of an opening between said sidewalls within which said strip is positioned, said strip being attached to at least one of said sidewalls along said line and across said opening with a bond sufficient to retain the leading end portion within said opening during moderate manipulation of said package while permitting loosening and removal without breakage of said strip on application of opposing tension to said envelope and said strip, and said envelope containing a supply of a second fluent material which is inter-reactive with said first fluent material and which is separated from said first fluent material and strip material by a seam sealing together the sidewalls of the envelope along a line connecting opposite edges of said envelope, said seam being predictably rupturable by grasping opposing sidewalls near the seam and pulling them apart, thereby permitting the communication of the fluent materials and the mixing of them together and with the strip material.

9. A method of packaging a supply of strip material having a free end portion in an open-ended envelope having thermoplastic sidewalls, the sidewalls being more easily heat sealed to themselves than to the strip material,

comprising hot pressing the sidewalls of the envelope along a line connecting opposite sealed edges of the envelope and crossing the free end portion of the strip material, at a temperature and pressure and for the time required to make a permanent seal between the sidewalls while making a temporary seal between the sidewalls and the strip material such that the strip material will remain bonded to the sidewalls during moderate manipulation of the finished package while permitting loosening and removal without breakage of said strip on application of opposing tension to said envelope and said strip and hot pressing the sidewalls along a line adjacent said open end to make a permanent seal between said sidewalls to close said envelope.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1953 Scholl 20652 12/1958 Lappala 20647 4/1963 Evans et al. 20646 8/1965 Gilbert 206-7 11/1965 Bradshaw 20652 FOREIGN PATENTS 9/1953 Great Britain.

WILLIAM T. DIXSON, JR., Primary Examiner. 

